Frangis l



(No Model.)

I. L. BECKER.

SHOULDER BEST FOR VIOLINS.

No. 262,923. Patented Jan. 31,1882.

' U BY @fi} 24 6 ATTORNEY N. PETERS. mo-Lifl n mr. washingwn, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANCIS L. BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOULDER-REST FOR VIOLINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,923, dated January 31, 1882.

Application filed May 27, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. BECKER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Rests for Violins, of which the following is a specification.

Here-tofore violin-players supported their violins on a small cushion ,which is placed upon the shoulder below the coat, so as to prevent the bending over of the head and the raising of the shoulders. To protect the violin against perspiration,which dissolves the glue connection of the body at the point where the chin rests thereon, it is customary to use a handkerchief and place the same between the chin and the body of the violin. Attempts have been made to introduce chin'rests which have been clamped to the body of the violin by means of clamping-screws; but these devices have not met with success, as they interfered with the proper vibrations of the soundingboards, and did notprotect the violin against the injurious effect of the perspiration of the neck.

The object of my invention is to furnish for violin-players an improved shoulder-rest which is attached to or removed from the violin in an instant and with great facility, which furthermore supports the violin at the proper height above the shoulder without interfering with the proper vibrations of the upper and lower sounding-boards of the instrument, and which fully protects the body of the violin against the injurious efiects of the perspiration ot' the chin and neck.

The invention consists of a shoulder-rest for violins which is made of a stiff interior stay, the upper U-shaped part of which is sprung on and retained by means of an elastic cushion .on the end of the violin. The stay rests by means of a cushion at the lower end on the shoulder of the player. The stay is covered with leather and protected by an exterior layer of water-proof material, and a chin-rest of the same material at the upper end.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents a perspective view of a violin with my improved shoulder-rest as shown in position for use, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

(No model.)

Referring to the drawings, A represents a stay, which is preferably made of a stiff piece of spring-steel of suitable thickness. Thestay A is bent at the upper partinto U shape,with rectangular corners, and slightly curved at the lower part, and provided with a cushion, B. The upper U-shaped part of the stay A is of such size as to fit over the body of the violin at that end which is held between shonlderand chin, the U-shaped end being provided at the upper or lower shoulder with a projecting elastic cushion, a, of rubber, cork, or other suitable material; or, if preferred, it may be attached to the violin by a suitable clamping-screw.

The entire stay A is inclosed and protected against oxidation by a leather covering, and furthermore provided at its outer side with a celluloid or other facing, O, which is made wider at the upper part of the U-shaped portion of the stay, and extended above the upper shoulder of the same into a slightly-concaved plate or chin-rest, D, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The chin-rest D, as well as the outer face-plate,

O, of the stay, may be made of one piece of' celluloid or other moisture-proof material, so as to fully protect the stay and violin against the injurious effect of the perspiration of the chin and neck. Celluloid of white color recommends itself specially for this purpose, as it always looks neat and clean and can be readily washed and restored to its original color.

The shoulder-rest is quickly sprung over the body of the violin and admits theeasy support of the violin between shoulder and chin at the proper height without necessitating any bending of the head, so as to admit ofa moregraceful and convenient holding of the instrument. The shoulder-rest does not interfere in the least with the vibrations of the sounding-boards and protects that part in contact with the neck and chin against wear and the injurious influence of the perspiration.

Having thus described my invention, Iclairn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A shoulder-rest for violins, composed of a stay having a cushion at the lower end, a U- shaped upper part, and a spring cushioning device connected to the latter, whereby the shoulder-rest may be attached to the body of the violin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a shoulder-rest for violins, a springstay, A, having a U-shapvd upper portion and a curved lower part, substantially as described.

3. A shoulder-rest i'or violins, composed of a metallicspring-stay having a cushion at the lower end, of an upper U-shaped portion provided Withmeans for attaching it to the violin, and of a chin plate or rest secured to the upper end of the stay, substantially as set forth.

4. In a shoulder-rest for violins, the combination, with a metallic spring-stay having an upper U-shaped portion and a curved lower portion, of a chin-plate secured to the upper end, and of an outer face plate orextension, by which the stay is protected against perspiration, substantially as specified.

5. In a shoulder-rest for violins, the combination, with a spring-stay, A, having a U shaped upper portion, of an elastic cushion, a, attached to the inside ofone of the shoulders thereof, to secure the same tightly to the body of the violin, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres enee of two witnesses, this 12th day of May, 1881.

FRANCIS L. BECKER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CARL KARI. 

